MELBOURNE'S draft dreams were granted when Greater Western Sydney selected three Victorian mates ahead of South Australian wingman Jimmy Toumpas.

The Giants added to their gluttony of talent, securing prized No.1 pick Lachie Whitfield and two best friends from the Calder Cannons –- slick midfielder Jono O'Rourke and rebounding defender Lachie Plowman.

It meant Toumpas slipped to pick No.4 despite the Demons rating the midfield 'road runner' as the second-best player in the draft.

"We are rapt, we didn't think Jimmy would be there, he's a player ideally that we really need," Melbourne recruiting boss Todd Viney said.

"He's a class midfielder whose got the nicest foot skills I have seen in a long time, right up there with Whitfield in the way he uses the footy."

While GWS played down the "friendship factor", it is another known recruiting tool in the club's bid to help safeguard its stable of stars from homesickness and poaching attempts from Victorian rivals.GALLERY: AFL National Draft 2012

Combined with father-son gem Jack Viney, the Demons' new midfield pairing will give it an engine room to lift the club out of the doldrums.

Viney said it was a relief to finally call out his son's name, despite a late stumble.

"I nearly stuffed up calling out hus numbers, it wasn't in the same synchronisation as the others," Viney said.

"Then I nearly forgot to call out his junior clubs, but I managed to get it all out in the end."

While some talent experts were surprised GWS overlooked Toumpas, Calder regional manager Ian Kyte said the friendship shared between the Giants first three selections would help set the club up for success.

Last year, GWS also took pairs of players from Geelong Falcons, Oakleigh Chargers and Geelong Falcons.

"They've been close mates for the past two years, even though Lachie Whitfield is from a different region (of Victoria), they're good friends who have bonded and travelled together a lot," Kyte said.

"It definitely makes it easier that they are going up there (to GWS) together.

"It's going to be dangerous for people who were already worried about Gold Coast winning a flag in five years – GWS just might pinch one first with the quality of kids and the quality of players they are drafting."

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